Wind Journal for Hans Anderson -- Sunday December 30, 2001 -- See All

33rd session in 2001
Sailed at Bird Island Basin
Wind from the N (mph)
        lulls: 10
        average: 18
        gusts: 28
Rated a 6 of 10

Board: Allstar 70, Screamer
Sail: 6.6 Infinity, 7.8 Infinity
Fin: 12.5 True Ames Weed, 17.5 Finworks Weed
Suit: Full
Water Temperature: 55 F
Air Temperature: 53 F

Not too bad today. It looked like wind early, but it was cold. I hung around for awhile and finally met Greg and Ed at Bird about 11am. They were sailing, but not powered up well. Neither had a weed fin and were struggling a bit from that. I rigged the 7.8 again and sailed for a while, got on a plane a few times and came in to adjust a few things. I'd spun out badly a couple of times, which I didn't think I should be doing. I adjusted the fin and sail, but it died while I was ashore.

Greg and Ed soon followed me to shore, as it stayed low. The two women from yesterday (Tina and Mia, sisters from Dallas, windsurfers since October), were out for awhile. They were hearty souls, sailing without a harness in 50 degree temps (water was about 55) and decent wind -- maybe gusts to 16 or 18mph. We talked a little, and I got cold on shore in my wetsuit so I headed back out just before Greg predicted it would pick up again. It did. I was cruising on the 7.8, but getting tired and a bit cold. Eventually it was a steady 20, gusting to 25 and I headed in. I decided to rig my 6.6 and use the Screamer. Greg went out about the same time as I did -- still on his 6.5. I was tired and a tad bit overpowered in the gusts. Greg was overpowered, too. After maybe 30 minutes I gave it up. I pulled off a few nice jibes on both boards and had some good rides all day on both, too. It was cold, nearly dark and getting windier by the minute.

Ed was on shore as Greg and I sailed, having harness line problems. Greg came in and let Ed go out. It was continuing to build, but Ed hit a lull on his way out and later told us that he couldn't figure out why we were talking about being overpowered -- it was perfect! Then came the gusts. He had some nice wipeouts -- fun ones -- as Greg and I derigged on shore. He made his way in, completely overpowered in 25 knots on a 6.5 (Ed is tall and light, a good sailor build, but not for a 6.5 in 25 knots). All in all a good day, Greg and Ed were heading back home in the morning, but hopefully they'll be back soon. Mia and Tina said they would be back in March. They'll probably be in their harnesses by then, maybe the footstraps and waterstarting, too. Or, by the time they leave, at least.


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